Arrowhead Pride
The defensive back spoke to reporters before Saturday’s rookie minicamp session in Kansas City.
When the Kansas City Chiefs traded up to select cornerback Nohl Williams with the 85th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, they didn’t just land a long, physical defender at a position of need. They drafted one of their own.
As Williams explained to reporters on Saturday afternoon, he was a Chiefs fan long before Kansas City ever called his name.
“Early on it was the San Diego Chargers — and then Kansas City, believe it or not,” Williams said of his childhood NFL fandom, “because my favorite player is De’Anthony Thomas. He got drafted here — and that’s when I made the switch.”
Now 32, Thomas was a fourth-round pick by the Chiefs in 2014. And if you’re wondering whether Williams is just pandering to his new fanbase, he says other things you’d expect a true fan to say.
“That was my team,” he added. “I watched them ever since the Alex Smith days — like Dexter McCluster, Jamaal Charles and all those guys.”
In the weekend’s rookie minicamp, Williams is getting his first opportunity to showcase his skills, hoping to prove that the team made the right choice. His first order of business is diving into defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s system.
“I’m hoping to show my willingness to learn the playbook [and its] verbiage,” he declared, “and just show great effort on the field — gelling with my teammates and with the coaching staff.”
Like most rookies, he’s willing to take any role he is given.
“Wherever they want me to be, I’m willing to learn,” he said. “[I’ll] contribute on special teams or wherever they need me.”
Fortunately for Williams, he’ll be learning under one of the best in the business: defensive backs coach Dave Merritt.
“He knows his stuff,” noted Williams, “and I know I can learn a lot from him — to keep growing and developing into the player I want to be.”
Williams led the NCAA with seven interceptions in 2024, thanks to his size and physicality at the catch point, which allows him to match up with bigger receivers. He also credits a relentless training routine.
“[I want] consistency on the jugs machine,” he explained. “[I’m] always envisioning myself turning into a wide receiver when the ball’s in the air.”
As a longtime fan, Williams is looking forward to hearing the roar of Arrowhead Stadium from the field.
“It’s one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL,” he said. “So just being on defense — and having that juice behind you? I feel like it’s going to be a feeling like no other.”
Hopefully, it will lead Kansas City’s newest ballhawk to reproduce his 2024 production — this time in the NFL.
